Why join?

Gulen, a 75-year old cleric who has lived in Pennsylvania since 1991, has been accused of masterminding the 15 July coup. He denies any involvement.

"This coup attempt has actors inside Turkey, but its script was written outside. Unfortunately the West is supporting terrorism and stands by coup plotters," said Erdogan.

The US, for its part, offered a mild rebuke to Erdogan's comments.

US state department spokesman John Kirby said Erdogan “is certainly free to express his views and his frustrations as he sees fit."

Kirby said "what matters is the partnership with Turkey is going forward."

Turkish lawmakers have since been dispatched to the United States in a broader diplomatic effort to convince authorities that Gulen is behind the attack.

Another group of Turkish lawmakers from the foreign affairs committee has also been sent to Brussels.

Erdogan also took a swipe at human rights group Amnesty International, which alleged that some people detained in the government-led purge had been tortured.

Erdogan said Turkey had “zero tolerance toward torture” and said the London-based rights group should visit those wounded in the coup.

“If you have any self respect, you’ll come to Turkey ... you’ll visit our [wounded] in hospital, and you’ll see who did what to whom,” he said.

Some 200 people died in the coup with another 2,000 injured.

But Amnesty International’s secretary general Salil Shetty stood by the torture reports.

In a statement issued after Ergodan's speech, he said the government must release people who have committed no crime.

“The serious human rights violations documented by an Amnesty International team on the ground in Turkey are alarming," he said.

Some 70,000 people have been forced to resign, including football referees, over their perceived affiliation in the plot to overthrow the government. Another 18,000 have been arrested, reports the Associated Press.

Erdogan hits out at Italy

Erdogan's combative accusations continued later on Tuesday in an interview with Italian TV channel RAI.

He criticised foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who had said Turkey must respect democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

"Mrs Mogherini should have first come to Turkey. Now I ask: What would be the reaction if the Italian parliament was bombed?"

Ankara has once again threatened to back away from a migrant deal with the EU unless visa waivers for Turks are lifted. Over 1,000 have crossed from Turkey to the Greek islands since the military coup attempt on 15 July.

Opinion

The West has nothing to fear from the convenient meeting of the minds between Erdogan and Putin. Both countries are strictly following their strategic national interests, which sometimes clash heavily - as can be seen in Syria.

European companies with business in Iran appear caught in a tug of war between the European Union and Washington. The US demands they leave Iran or face sanctions. The European Union says remain in Iran or face penalties a home.